Kenya has officially taken over the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) from Burundi, marking a new chapter in regional economic leadership. President William Ruto, who assumed the role during the 23rd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, pledged to deepen trade ties, enhance digital integration, and strengthen economic cooperation among the 21 member states.
Ruto emphasized that the next year under Kenya’s leadership will focus on digital transformation, intra-African trade expansion, and industrial value-chain development as part of a collective effort to make the region more self-reliant and competitive in the global market.
Highlights
- Kenya assumes COMESA chairmanship from Burundi for the next one year.
- President Ruto pledges to drive digital integration and regional economic growth.
- The new agenda focuses on technology-driven trade, innovation, and sustainable development.
- Ruto calls for stronger collaboration among African nations to boost intra-regional trade.
- Kenya’s leadership is expected to align COMESA with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals.
Main Story
During the high-level COMESA Summit attended by heads of state, ministers, and regional policymakers, President William Ruto officially took over the bloc’s chairmanship from Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye. The transition, held amid discussions on Africa’s economic resilience, marked a pivotal moment for Kenya as it assumes a leading role in shaping the region’s trade and development agenda.
President Ruto expressed gratitude for the confidence bestowed upon Kenya and pledged to build on COMESA’s vision of a fully integrated, prosperous, and peaceful region.
“This is a moment for our region to reimagine how we trade, how we collaborate, and how we empower our people through technology and innovation,” he said.
In his inaugural address as COMESA chair, Ruto outlined an ambitious plan centered on digital integration, noting that technology remains the key to unlocking Africa’s full economic potential. He called for a unified digital trading platform that would simplify cross-border business, reduce transaction costs, and improve market access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“The future of trade in Africa lies in digital transformation. We must invest in infrastructure, data systems, and e-commerce to connect our people to opportunity,” he said.
Under Kenya’s leadership, COMESA is expected to prioritize the implementation of digital trade systems, enhance customs efficiency, and harmonize data-sharing frameworks among member states. This digital push aligns with Kenya’s domestic success in fintech and innovation from mobile money to tech-driven public services which Ruto said could serve as a regional model.
Beyond digital transformation, President Ruto underscored the need for stronger intra-regional trade and industrial cooperation, noting that the region’s economies must complement rather than compete with each other. He urged member states to invest in regional value chains, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy, to reduce reliance on external markets.
“Africa has everything it needs to feed, power, and sustain itself. What we lack is coordination and trust. COMESA must be the platform where that trust is rebuilt,” Ruto said.
He emphasized that the bloc should align its goals with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, ensuring seamless movement of goods, services, and people across borders. According to him, regional integration is the path to achieving sustainable growth and economic sovereignty.
Ruto also acknowledged that while COMESA has made significant strides in boosting trade, several challenges persist including non-tariff barriers, poor infrastructure, and limited digital readiness in some member states.
He called on governments to adopt a coordinated approach to policy implementation, particularly in transportation, energy connectivity, and border management, to ensure that regional trade agreements translate into real economic benefits.
The President also urged the private sector to play a greater role in driving COMESA’s development agenda, saying that innovation and investment must go hand in hand with policy reforms.
“Governments can set the vision, but it’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and traders who will make that vision real,” he noted.
Kenya’s chairmanship comes at a crucial time when COMESA nations are working to recover from global economic shocks caused by pandemics, conflicts, and climate change. Ruto emphasized that the region must shift from dependency to interdependence, focusing on local production, technology transfer, and cross-border investments.
He also highlighted the importance of youth and women empowerment, noting that the future of Africa’s economy lies in inclusion and digital literacy. Kenya’s administration has already prioritized programs that support youth-led enterprises and tech start-ups an approach Ruto hopes to extend to the wider COMESA region.
“We must build a region that not only trades with the world but also trades with itself — powered by young people, driven by innovation, and sustained by shared prosperity,” he said.
Kenya’s assumption of COMESA’s chairmanship is not only symbolic but strategic. As one of the region’s largest economies and a major trade hub, Kenya’s leadership could inject new momentum into the bloc’s economic programs.
Experts believe that Ruto’s focus on digitization, trade harmonization, and investment facilitation could redefine how African nations collaborate economically. Kenya is also expected to host several high-level COMESA events during its term to accelerate progress on trade integration, transport corridors, and climate-smart development.
The transition from Burundi to Kenya reflects COMESA’s commitment to rotational leadership that represents diversity within the region while maintaining policy continuity.
Over the next twelve months, Kenya’s leadership will prioritize:
- Rolling out COMESA’s digital trade and payment platform.
- Enhancing regional supply chains in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing.
- Promoting sustainable financing models for climate adaptation and green growth.
- Deepening private sector collaboration to increase intra-regional investment.
- Strengthening peace and stability as foundations for economic integration.
President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and innovation as guiding principles of his chairmanship.
“Our success as COMESA will not be measured by declarations but by how much we improve the lives of ordinary Africans. Let this be a year of action,” he concluded.
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As Kenya assumes the COMESA chairmanship, President Ruto’s digital-first vision signals a bold shift toward modernization and self-sufficiency. The challenge ahead lies not in ambition, but in unity ensuring that the region’s collective potential finally translates into shared prosperity.
